International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue X, October 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

The History of Mystique Building and Big Man Syndrome: The Case of Jomo Kenyatta Identity in Kenya

 Daniel Daniel Simotwo
A lecturer at the Department of History, Political Science and Public Administration; Moi University, Kenya.

Abstract: The history of mystique building and bigman syndrome among prominent personalities is not a new phenomenon in the contemporary society. This paper attempts to carry out an investigation into the various claims that attends the identity of Kenya’s first president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta whose original name was known as Johnstone Kamau wa Ngengi. The paper seeks to find out the claims of various ethnic communities within and without, that Jomo Kenyatta is one of their own. Among the claims are:- is Jomo Kenyatta, a Kalenjin, a Mijikenda, a Maasai, or a descendant of Uganda’s Bunyoro Kitara kingdom’s royal family? The paper also seeks to establish whether these claims have any political motives and reasons for change of name from Johnstone Kamau wa Ngengi to Jomo Kenyatta. This paper adopts a qualitative approach by reviewing the available literature on the subject to come up with a logical conclusion. The paper examines literature on the meaning of the name Jomo and Kenyatta in the Gikuyu language vis-à-vis the Kalenjin and Maasai claims that the names have a meaning in their languages. The paper also examines literature on the claims that Kenyatta has roots among the Mijikenda and the Bunyoro Kitara’s royal family. The paper concludes that apart from the claims made by the Bonyoro Kitara royal family, no confirmation could be made, unless a DNA test is made or the Kenyatta family issue a public statement. As for the Kalenjin claims the same standard of prove is required to clarify the claims. For the Maasai claims, it was established that Kenyatta had an aunt who was married to a Maasai, though the paper was not able to identify the name of the aunt or the name of the husband of the aunt. The paper also established that the reason for name changing could be attributed to identity creation and for political mileage.

Key words: Mystique building, big man syndrome, identity.